Enhancing Halal Awareness And Scientific Learning Through A Cross-Cultural Community Engagement By Culturally-Informed University Science Educators On Natural Herbal Soap-Making Among Thai School Students

School-based health education provides an important platform for promoting halal, hygiene, cultural understanding, and healthy practices among young learners. This study reports a cross-cultural community engagement by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Mahidol University, and Bangkok Noi Elementary School, Bangkok, Thailand focusing on halal-based hygiene education through natural herbal soap-making. Materials and Methods: A one-day interactive workshop was conducted involving 32 students aged 12–17 years. The programme combined short lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on soap-making activities. A pre- and post-test design assessed changes in knowledge of halal concepts, natural ingredients, and soap formulation. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Participants’ mean knowledge scores improved significantly from 1.72 ± 0.77 (pre-test) to 3.36 ± 0.81 (post-test) (p < 0.001, r = 0.82). Qualitative feedback indicated that 93.8% of students enjoyed the activity, while 87.5% would recommend it to peers. Conclusion: The programme effectively enhanced students’ understanding of halal-based hygiene and natural product formulation while promoting intercultural appreciation. The IIUM–Mahidol collaboration demonstrates the potential of Shariah-informed community engagement in strengthening health education and halal awareness.